Isobel R. Contento

Expertise

Isobel R. Contento

Professional Background

Educational Background

B.Sc. (Hons), University of EdinburghM.A., Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Scholarly Interests

Behavioral aspects of nutrition; use of psychosocial theory to study factors influencing food choice, particularly among children and adolescents; the development and evaluation of school-based programs that link science education and behavioral nutrition through an examination of food choice and food systems; impacts of theory-based behaviorally focused interventions to reduce risk of overweight in youth by focusing on understanding of how the interactions among biology, personal behavior, and the food system affect eating patterns and weight and enhancing skills to make competent choices; use of theory and research evidence to design nutrition education programs; the intersection of education and policy to increase access and promote health in schools and communities.

Di Noia, J. & Contento I. R. (2009).Use of a brief food frequency questionnaire for estimating daily number of servings of fruits and vegetables in a minority adolescent population. Journal of the American Dietetic Association.109:1785-9.

Contento IR, Zybert PA, Williams SS. (2005). Relationship of cognitive restraint of eating and disinhibition to the quality of food choices of Latina women and their young children. Preventive Medicine. 40: 326-336.

Hindin TJ, Contento IR, Gussow JD (2004). A media literacy nutrition education curriculum for Head Start parents about the effects of television advertising on their children’s food requests. Journal of the American Dietetic Association.104: 164-169.

Dr Contento’s current research, conducted with collaborators, focuses on several areas: •Linking childhood obesity prevention to food system education - examples include an intervention study with middle school students, Choice, Control & Change, that seeks to reduce the risk of overweight in youth by an emphasis on personal agency and autonomous motivation in healthful food and activity choices within an obesigenic environment, and Creature 101, a serious educational game for middle school youth to increase healthful behaviors. •The interactions of education and policy - an example is Food, Health & Choices, a study with fifth graders that examines the impact of classroom education and wellness policy separately and together to achieve healthful choices and obesity risk reduction. •Evaluation of after-school programs to promote healthful plant-based cooking and eating. •Factors influencing adoption of a variety of modes of nutrition education in schools, including gardening, and their policy implications.

Isobel R Contento is the Mary Swartz Rose Professor of Nutrition and Education, and Coordinator of the Nutrition Program at Teachers College Columbia University. She has spoken on nutrition education at many national and international conferences and has been involved in numerous nutrition education development and evaluation projects and intervention research in this country and abroad, including Mexico, El Salvador, Israel, Japan, Taiwan, Portugal. She has been a member of several national advisory committees including the American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control, and the Institute of Medicine committee that produced Nutritional Standards for Food in Schools that was used to inform legislation, and the Nutrition Education Technical Expert Collaborative of the Nutrition Evidence Library, USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. She has received research grants from the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Department of Agriculture, and other sources. She has also been active in the Society for Nutrition Education for many years, serving on various committees including the Journal Committee, Board of Directors, and Board of Trustees. She was the recipient of that society’s Excellence in Nutrition Education Award. She has served on the editorial boards of several journals. She works with graduate students in field settings and provides workshops for practitioners on nutrition education. She has published numerous articles and book chapters, and has served on the editorial boards of several journals. The second edition of her textbook, Nutrition Education, Linking Research, Theory and Practice was published in 2011.

HBSV 4010: Food, nutrition and behavior

For nonmajors and majors. A study of physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors that affect eating behaviors and the development of individual and cultural food patterns. Topics include the chemical senses, why we like sweet, salt, and fat; self-regulation of what and how much we eat; effect of early experiences with food; food and mood; interaction of food and culture through history; eating, cooking, and time use trends; meat meanings; psychosocial and cultural factors in food choice.

Understanding and application of theoretical frameworks from the behavioral sciences and education to design and deliver food and nutrition education and physical activity promotion to various groups and to facilitate the adoption of healthful behaviors. Includes both didactic and field practice components.

HBSV 5513: Seminar in nutrition education: Theory and applications

An in-depth examination of the use of current theories and research in the design, implementation, and evaluation of nutrition education interventions. Course is designed to supplement topics covered in HBSV 5013. Required of nutrition education masters and doctoral students. Students may register for more than one semester.

HBSV 6550: Research seminar in nutrition

Required of all Ed.M. and Ed.D. candidates. Discussion of current research issues and student projects. Stu-dents may register for more than one semester.

HBSE 6901: Research and independent study: Special Education

Permission required.

HBSV 8900: Dissertation advisement in nutrition

Advisement on doctoral dissertations. Fee to equal 3 points at current tuition rate for each term. For requirements, see catalog on continuous registration for Ed.D. degree.